Operation Training

Equestrian Heroes

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Naruto x ?

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Story Start

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Naruto silently sat back as he did his best to enjoy the train ride back to Ponyville. As he watched Canterlot slowly shrink away in the distance along with the sun, he wondered how the girls were going to take the revelation that they were going to have to alter their lives a bit to now include training to their new responsibilities.

They were already having some trouble dealing with their hero status; though in the case of Pinkie Pie and Rarity business had never been better it was Fluttershy and Applejack who had problems with nosy and pushy ponies trying to get their fifteen minutes of fame through association.

Emerging from the tunnel his view was filled with lush trees and expansive valley that formed a part of the Everfree Forest.  The train soon arrived in Ponyville.  He had only taken a few steps when he heard a voice call his name.

“Naruto!”

He turned at the voice to see none other than Twilight waiting for him.  “Well this is a pleasant surprise. You didn’t have to meet me here Twilight.”  Naruto spoke as she approached.

“I didn’t mind.”  She replied with a kind smile.  “So what happened? Why did Princess Celestia called you away so urgently from Cloudsdale? Is everything okay?”

“I’m fine and so are things in Canterlot. In fact to the members of my guard’s disappointment I’m not returning to my station just yet. Apparently Princess Luna is an even stricter slave driver then I am. Apparently the original members of the Lunar Guard sparred with Princess Luna regularly.  In fact I’ve been hearing she’s written a manifesto of all the flaws of current day recruits and a strict guide on how to whip them back in shape.“

“How are Nightwing and Raven?”

“I didn’t really speak with them much.” Naruto admitted. “They seem well.” Naruto was thankful they bore no ill-will towards him after the way he abandoned them in the forest.  That very action was poorly thought out and selfish and there was no telling what would have happened to the two of them if they were soldiers of a lower grade. He needed to remember that the ponies of this era had seen next to no action and did not have the experience or power that they did back in the elemental nations. “The sheer number of troops being added to the Night Guard has been rather staggering. I’m going to have my work cut out for me when I get back.” He couldn’t help but theorize Celestia was being protective of her sibling at the moment. He couldn’t blame her considering the nature of their night visitor was still unknown. Then again over a thousand years of separation had to be factored in as well. “But there’s more to it than that. It’s not any situation of Canterlot we’re worried about, but right here in Ponyville. Twilight, you and the other bearers aren’t safe, you especially as long as Ombra is out there.”

Twilight shook her head.  “But it wouldn’t go as far as attack Ponyville right? I mean you took care of its minions and the only reason it was after unicorns because it was too weak to attack people.” While Twilight knew some of the details behind why she was attack there was still much that she wasn’t briefed on.

“It’s not just about that. You and the others are wielded a magic not seen for over a thousand years. The moment that happened the six of you ceased from being normal ponies.  Faces, you six have ties to both princesses now, especially you Twilight and there are those who won’t hesitate to exploit that.”

“But we didn’t do it alone. You also helped what about you?”

“I’ve already obtained the Rank of Night Guard Captain. Most individuals are less than likely to pull something on a trained soldier, especially one who is captain of his own guard. Not to mention I have years’ worth of combat training stemming back from my youth. I can more than handle my arm and while you and the others are strong in their own right, you have next to no actual combat experience.” Twilight was opening her mouth, but Naruto refuted her rebuttal before it could gain any ground. “Before you pointed out the spells the Princess taught you how often did you use them outside training or the Nightmare Moon Incident all those months ago?”

Twilight promptly closed her lips. Twilight’s thoughts drifted to the trials they had overcome. “My friends and I are not helpless.”

“You’re right,” he agreed. “I’ve seen the others in action and from what I know of you I think I can put a fair estimation of your abilities. Though as the Princess was so kind to inform me the six of you have far more potential then you ever might have ever realized. That is why the Princesses sent me back here. To help you six realize your full potential.  If you girls aren’t careful you could get foalnapped or end up dead when Equestria needs you the most. The Darkness is still out there and Princess Luna is still recovering. The Princesses have lost their connection to the Elements and if in the unlikely event Princess Luna were to relapse it could mean the end of everything.”

Twilight found herself stopped in midstride at this revelation.  Could the Princess really have a relapse?  Thinking back to what she knew concerning the events Luna was overcome by her negative emotions where something dark and terrible took hold and festered driving her to the brink of madness as Nightmare Moon.

Luna slowly became bitter, jealous, and angry, and after nursing those dark emotions for years, she finally gave in to them, undergoing a terrible transformation and thereafter was known as Nightmare Moon.

“In her weakened state, what would happen if some of the only ponies that she could call friends were to go missing or worse, get killed? Ponyville as a community may have accepted her, but they don’t know her Twilight.  Whenever anyone speaks about Princess Luna they see the Princess first and foremost and not Luna.   There is also the fact that Princesses agreed that we need to destroy Ombra once and for all before he becomes a problem.  There’s a possibility that he might have more lackeys or even allies when is why you six need to be in prime condition when you wield the elements to destroy him. I know you’re not a violent pony by nature Twilight and I’m asking you and your friends to make a big compromise when it comes to your personal lives and career, but it’s for the good of everypony we do something now and nip these potential problems in the bud before they grew too much for us to handle. “

Twilight couldn’t refute what Naruto was saying. She by no means meant to insinuate she would rebuke Naruto’s offer to train, but she never saw herself as anypony special, but despite her middling understanding of social cues and interactions she couldn’t rebuke the truth in Naruto’s words. “Alright, what do I tell the others?”

“Can you find them and ask them to meet at your home tomorrow evening say around six? I don’t want to interrupt them if they’re in the middle of work. “ Naruto sighed as they came a stop to Twilight’s house. Surprisingly the journey was much shorter then he initially thought.  “It shouldn’t be too hard to convince Applejack or Rainbow and as unpredictable as Pinkie is I know she’ll do anything to keep everypony around her happy and safe.”

“It’s Rarity and Fluttershy you’re worried about?” Rarity after all considered herself a lady and would probably remark how uncouth the matter of fighting would be and Fluttershy, the kind animal caretaker probably wasn’t even capable of hurting a bug let alone fighting. Naruto definitely had his work cut out for him.

The following evening everyone had gathered.  Naruto and Twilight stood to one side of the library as the others were gathered on the other side. The faint orange-yellow radiance of the sun painted the sky, signifying the entrance of the moon in the oncoming powers.

“All right we’re here,”  Applejack as the others sat in a half-circle around her. “Now what’s so important y’all round us up here to chitchat about?”

Naruto cleared his throat. “I suppose there’s no sense in beating about the bush. As you girls know ever since the Nightmare Moon incident you six have been given a lot of attention.”

“Hay yeah! We kicked flank!” Rainbow interrupted.

“As I was saying.” He sent a sharp glare at the rainbow maned mare. “That leaves us with a dilemma of sorts when it comes to two things. Because of this you six are slowly but surely becoming a household name to many provinces along Equestria. Whether as a result of those coveting your power or seeking to social climb you six are potential targets for those who will do anything to seek what they view as getting ahead in life. Which put the six of you in danger.”

“Danger?” Fluttershy whispered with a startled look.

“Surely nopony would risk the consequences if they were to attempt something untoward towards us?” while Rarity knew of the darker side of things when it came to social climbing she didn’t think somepony would risk the backlash of attacking something heralded as a national hero.

“There are those out there willing to do anything. The promise of enough money or power can be that sort of lure.”

“Or the ideal that they could remake the world in their image with them as god.”

Naruto paused before continuing. “Though as I discussed with the Princesses there is more than concern against those who might have treasonous reasons.  There is also the Darkness, the corrupting force that plagued Princess Luna. The creature connected to it is still out there and the only way to ensure that it can’t hurt anypony else is to purify it using the Elements of Harmony, though there is no telling how long it’ll take to find it or what kind of condition it’s in. Even weakened the creature could prove formidable and its best that you six are readied for a fight if it comes to that. This means, you’re going to have to adjust the schedule in your personal lives since that means I’ll be training you in combat.”

“Ah got work to be doing on the farm so if ya don’t mind landing a hoof maybe some adjustments can be made.” As expected Applejack was receptive to the idea, after all it wasn’t like she was a stranger to training with Naruto.

“How much time we talking?  Look between me being thousands of feet up in the air when I’m at work or when I’m training my flying abilities I’m not sure how that’s going to fit in my schedule. Besides how much training can I really need? If this Ombre thing is so weak I highly doubt it’d be able to catch me.”

“F-Fighting?” Fluttershy began a gentle protest. “I-I don’t think I can fight anypony or anything for that matter. T-The thought of hurting a-anypony is something I’m not comfortable with.”

“Darling while I’m more than happy to put a ruffian or two in their place I’m not much of a fighter. My spells are designed to create art not to combat strange creatures. Besides if you need us to use the elements why not just bring a squad of guards with us. Surely they will be able to protect when we cleanse this cretin.”

It seemed to be three against two. Naruto didn’t blame them for being intimidated or scared. They didn’t have the benefit of training or mental conditioning for years. A few months ago they were mere civilians.

“But if we don’t who will?” all attention turned to Pinkie Pie, reminding them all that Laughter had yet as to speak. “Rainbow everypony needs us. We have to do something before that mean shadow monster hurts somepony like the princess again. We can’t do it without you.” She turned to Fluttershy. “I know you don’t like to fight Fluttershy, I don’t want to hurt anypony either, but if this shadow is the reason why Princess Luna became Nightmare Moon he’ll keep hurting ponies unless he’s stopped.” Finally she turned to Rarity. “I know you don’t like fighting either Rarity, but if we don’t do something now then we’ll have more to worry about what’s ladylike and what’s not.”

Sometimes it was easy to forget that there was an intelligent mare behind her childlike persona. Twilight stepped forward to give that one final push. “All of Equestria is counting on us. If this darkness can affect somepony like a princess there’s no telling what it can do to normal ponies or other beings. The princesses can no longer wield the elements like they did in the past and even if they could Princess Luna isn’t in any condition to. Our battle with her left her quite weakened.”

“But we saw her Nightmare Night. She seemed plenty mine to me.” Applejack observed, recalling Princess Luna’s animated behavior during the event.

“Yes, fourteen weeks after her return. I’m not sure the depths of the Princess’s powers, but you have to remember it has to be enough to move Moon and stars. Everyday Unicorns, even those a bit of average would be hard press to move a house. I can’t even fathom how much power it would take to move something like a planet not to mention the distance. She regained enough power to assume her ethereal form, but only at certain times. She still shifts between her current form and the form we saw her in shortly after Nightmare Moon’s defeat during the phases of the moon. Even then it’s not just physical weakness I’m talking about. She’s still coming to terms with her emotions. 1000 years of solitude with nothing but rage, despair, and sadness fueling your psyche is not something you’re going to get over in a few weeks. There’s even a possibility that she could relapse, especially if the ponies she considers dear to her if she were to lose her lives.”

“Poor Princess.” Rarity murmured and took on an expression of shame. “Here I am concerned about such petty things and the poor dear as to carry a burden of this size on her mind.”

“The poor dear,” Fluttershy murmured. “I wish there was something we could do for her.”

“We can.” They all turned to Rainbow, who had a look of determination on her face. “We kick this Ombra freak straight to Ombra.”

A look of elation formed on Naruto’s face. “So you girls are agreeing to this? You do realize I can’t go easy on you. That I’m going to have to take everything I learn or take about you mold you into capable fighters and strategists capable of holding your own in a fight.”

“We have too.” Twilight replied.  “The Elements chose us for a reason. If we lacked the virtues that they embodied we would not have been chosen in the first place. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if my selfishness led to somepony being hurt.”

“I know all of you have work or personal business that might make this difficult, but I’m sure we can schedule a way to make this work. This following Saturday at noon let’s meet at my home, out back I have the area cleared out and set for training. I need to gauge your abilities first before I can come up with the best way to train you.”

The girls got up, some matter of small talk exchanged before everypony began heading towards the door. They all bid their farewells as they all left for their homes, their minds now burden with new information and expectations.

“So I take it with this training our lessons are going to be put on hold?” Twilight wondered as she and Naruto conversed at the door.

“For the time being or until we set a better rhythm.” He said as an awkward silence occurred between. “Twilight…I…do you…” he began trailing off.

“Yes?” she expectantly looked up at him, wondering what he wanted to ask her.

“Its…its nothing.” He quickly shook his head and denied the conversation. “I’ll see you later. Have a goodnight.”

“Oh,” Twilight looked a bit downtrodden. “O-Ok. Goodnight.” She said as he opened the door and closed it behind him.

Naruto took one last glance behind him before shaking his head and began walking down Ponyville streets. Even though Twilight was a sweet mare and they got along well, he was sure that there was no way she was ready for anything romantic, being someone who finally discovered the value of friends such a short amount of time ago. He sighed as the busy chatter of ponies walking by drew his attention to where his stray thoughts were only given half his attention. What provoked Princess Luna in asking him did he have a special somepony? While he was finally growing used to his environment he was sure he would have been blissfully happy if he didn’t think about the prospect of romance. Though now that it was brought to the forefront of his attention he couldn’t help but think about it.

Maybe. Maybe it was time he could at least attempt to start dating again. His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of his stomach rumbling.  Yeah it would be a good idea if he got something to eat as well. He made his way to where stalls were set when he spotted a familiar face. An earth pony with a pale goldenrod coat, carrot orange mane and tail, dark olive green eyes, and a cutie mark of three carrots with greens. Golden Harvest like the Apples was a farmer, but a mare who specialized in Carrot farming. Like himself Golden Harvest was one of Derpy’s few friends.

“Hi, Naruto. Are you back already from your trip? It must be so exciting be able to go to Canterlot whenever you wish though I thought being the Captain you would spend more time, you know, being captainy.”

Naruto chucked. “Well Carrot Top,” he began, referring to her by her nickname. “Let’s just stay I joined around the right time for all sorts of adventures.” He answered as he began gazing at the crops. They were all their distinct little shakes with grooves and little patches.   “This seems to be a nice batch.”

“Yep, I’ve been trying a new method that makes them extra juicy.”

“You really are great at what you do Carrot. I’m surprised someone sweet like you doesn’t have a coltfriend.”

“Aah, well.” a cute blush formed on Carrot Top’s face in response to Naruto’s words.  She couldn’t help but wonder what brought this on all of a sudden.  “Thank you.” a smile shyly tugged at her lips.

“I’ll take three carrots.” He said, taking out a few bits from his bag. “I’ll see you later alright. Maybe we can go out for lunch sometime?”

“That sounds nice,” Carrot Top replied, the rosy hue on her cheeks still remained.

  “I’ll see you then.” He replied as he began making his way back to his home. ‘Huh, maybe this won’t be as tough as I thought.’ Naruto initially concluded. At the very least he could go on a few dates with some of the mares he knew and see how he felt and work up his comfort levels before deciding on setting his entrance on any one particular mare.

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Chapter End

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So yeah no shipping antics this chapter. The epic ninja pony that Celestia will employ to tail Naruto won’t come in until later. Though, I do have a list.

Allie Way

Minuette

Derpy

Mane Six

Carrot Top

Aloe or Lotus

Octavia

Vinyl

That’s the list for now.